Door mechanism for boxcars



April! 4, 1950 J. H. HOPKINS DOOR MECHANISM FOR BOXCARS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed June 7, 1944 m m M, H H, J

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DooR MECHANISM FOR BoxcARs Filed June 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Shee*v 2 atentecl pr. 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR MECHANISM FOR BOXCARS `lohn H. Hopkins, Rawlins, Wyo.

Application .lune 7, 1944, Serial No. 539,137

' 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a novel door mechanism .particularly applicable to grain-carrying box cars.

A prime object is to provide a novel construction capable of manufacture entirely or primarily of metal, and a construction wherein the door and all of the moving and locking parts are a unit.

In addition, it is aimed to provide a structure wherein the door is capable of being removed, swinging outwardly in opening, and wherein locking elements are provided which are operable by a vertically movable plate having V or cam connections with the locking means.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a graincarrying box car equipped with door mechanism according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the parts of Figure l but with the door mechanism locked;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the parts of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 2.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, I designates a side wall of a conventional box car or the like, of the type primarily adapted to carry grain. This wall has a door opening Il therein, surrounded by a door frame I2 including uprights I3 at the sides thereof.

Said doorway or opening II is adapted to be closed by a door structure generally designated I4. This door structure has an inner panel I of approximately the same area as the door opening and on the outside has auxiliary or outer panels I6, which are spaced from the panel I5 by studs I'I, and the panels I5 and I6 are secured in place to such studs.

Slidably mounted for longitudinal movement in slots I8 of the studs I'I, are locking bolts or bars I9 adapted for engagement with and disengagement from keeper recesses in the uprights I3.

An actuating plate 2I for the locking bolts I9 is slidably mounted against the panel I5 between the innermost studs I1. In either face of the actuating plate 2|, V or cam grooves 22 are provided, and inwardly-extending projections 23 extend inwardly from the bolts I9 into the grooves 22. Such projections preferably include rollers 24 to enable operation with minimum friction.

At each upper corner, the door has pintles or trunnions 25 securely fastened thereto and such trunnions project beyond the door and are journaled in sockets or openings 26 in the uprights i3. Such sockets or openings 28 are preferably open at the front as at 2l to enable the door to be bodily removed and replaced when desired.

It is clear that the construction may be made of any suitable materials, and that all movable parts are carried by the door. The door may be made entirely of metal or partly of metal, as preferred. In some instances, the panels I5 and I6 will be made of metal and the remaining part made of wood.

In Figure 2, it will be realized that the door is shown in locked position since the locking elements I9 are extended into the keeper openings 29. However, in order to unlock the door so that the same may be swung on the pintles 21 to the dotted-line position of Figure 3, outwardly of the car, the plate 2l is moved upwardly to the position of Figure l. Through said movement of the plate 2i, the cam grooves 22 through coaction with the rollers 24 retract bolts I9 so that they free the keeper openings 20 as shown in Figures 1 and 5.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

A door structure of the character described comprising a door section provided with a back wall and a pair of horizontally spaced front walls, said front walls being provided with vertical walls at their vertical edges secured to the back wall and each formed with an opening therein, a vertically slideable plate on the front side of the back wall formed with a V-shaped groove in its front surface, a bolt disposed through the openings of the vertical walls of each front wall and provided with a rearward projection disposed into the adjacent leg of the V-shaped groove, said bolts being adapted to move horizontally away from each other upon downward movement of the vertically slideable plate.

JOHN I-I. HOPKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 272,873 Fraser Feb. 27, 1883 918,662 Drucker Apr. 20, 1909 939,355 Van Cott Nov. 9, 1909 950,025 Paget et al Feb. 22, 1910 1,060,988 Lockhart May 6, 1913 1,525,280 Drake Feb. 3, 1925 

